microcosm
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mi·cro·cosm

noun \ˈmī-krə-ˌkä-zəm\

Definition of MICROCOSM

1
: a little world; especially : the human race or human nature seen as an epitome of the world or the universe
2
: a community or other unity that is an epitome of a larger unity
mi·cro·cos·mic \ˌmī-krə-ˈkäz-mik\ adjective
mi·cro·cos·mi·cal·ly \-mi-k(ə-)lē\ adverb
in microcosm
: in a greatly diminished size, form, or scale

Examples of MICROCOSM

  1. The village is a microcosm of the whole country.
  2. The game was a microcosm of the entire season.

Origin of MICROCOSM

Middle English, from Medieval Latin microcosmus, modification of Greek mikros kosmos
First Known Use: 15th century

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